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Introduction

I've been in the Air Force 17.5 years, and arrived in Afghanistan in June, 2006. After writing daily e-mails home to many friends and family, I decided to edit them into a series of articles that could be used for newspapers, or become chapters in a book. I am currently being published in the Tullahoma News, my hometown newspaper. Maybe one day I'll be able to publish a book. I'll certainly have enough to fill a book. And if nothing else, it keeps me busy when I'm not working.


Doug Traversa

22 Feb 2007

Children

Today Hamid (my interpreter) came with me to lunch, and I stopped by the hut to drop off my armor and rifle.“Hey, you’ve never seen my blog, have you?…

Revised 22 Feb 2007 by Doug Traversa

19 Jan 2007

Hope and Despair

For those who have been reading my posts from the beginning, excuse me while I do a quick review for new readers. I work at the Central Movement Agenc…

Revised 19 Jan 2007 by Doug Traversa

7 Jan 2007

Winter at Camp Phoenix

Kabul is currently suffering under a massive bout of cold weather, which our interpreters Wali and Hamid assure us is far from normal. They say this w…

Revised 7 Jan 2007 by Doug Traversa

20 Nov 2006

ETT

Here I am with my good friend Col Atabar--------------------------------------------------------I’ve had many people reading my blog, articles, and/or…

Revised 20 Nov 2006 by Doug Traversa

12 Nov 2006

Goodbye, Col Rasoul

12 Nov 2006My job in Afghanistan is working at an Afghan Transportation Unit called the Central Movements Agency (CMA). I am assigned here, along with…

Revised 13 Nov 2006 by Doug Traversa

3 Aug 2006

Hamid

Hamid has been my interpreter and friend here in Kabul for over three months.  This event occured on 3 August.  I won't post a photo of Hamid because …

Revised 3 Nov 2006 by Doug Traversa

28 Apr 2006

Off to Afghanistan

Back in June I arrived in Afghanistan for a one-year tour. In August I started blogging about my adventures here. A couple of days ago I was invited t…

Revised 2 Nov 2006 by Doug Traversa

Weapons Training

Before I deployed to Afghanistan, I spent a month at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, undergoing Army Combat Skills Training.  Here's some of the fun I went throu…

Revised 7 Nov 2006 by Doug Traversa

Jingle Trucks

One of the first things that struck me about Afghanistan, besides the stunning levels of poverty I saw everywhere, were these gloriously colorful truc…

Revised 22 Nov 2006 by Doug Traversa

Travels in Kabul

I've been home on R&R leave, and and now back and settled in for my final six months in Afghanistan.  Now that I'm back, I'll start posting again.…

Revised 21 Dec 2006 by Doug Traversa

Christmas in Kabul

On Christmas Eve, Mike asked all of us in our side of the hut to sing some Christmas carols for his wife and daughter. He was going to record them on …

Revised 24 Dec 2006 by Doug Traversa

Be Afraid

Just when I think nothing will surprise me, Afghanistan throws me a curve ball.  Let me set the stage.  Maj Apple, Wali, Hamid (our interpreters), and…

Revised 6 Feb 2007 by Doug Traversa

Cleanliness and Godliness

Hamid swung by the hut today to get me for lunch after he had hitched a ride back to Phoenix. I was just finishing up some writing, so I had him come …

Revised 15 Apr 2007 by Doug Traversa

Hamid and the Giant Purple Lizard

It’s been a long time since I last posted.  Forgive me.  I returned to the States in May of 2007, and have made the adjustment back to life in America…

Revised 15 Jan 2008 by Doug Traversa